Ampthill Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Ampthill's crime rate in May 2023 stood at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 46.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This relatively low rate reflects a broader trend of sustained safety, though the data reveals a combination of crime types that may be influenced by local characteristics. Anti-social behaviour was the most prevalent category, accounting for 38.5% of all reported crimes, followed by violence and sexual offences (18%) and vehicle crime (10.3%). The seasonal context of May, with its bank holidays and extended evening hours, may have contributed to the rise in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which saw a sharp increase from previous months. While the area's overall crime profile remains far below national benchmarks, the prominence of anti-social behaviour suggests a need for targeted interventions in public spaces. Categories such as burglary and drugs-related offences remained significantly below UK averages, with burglary at 0.1 per 1,000 (68% below the national rate) and drugs offences at 0.1 per 1,000 (52% below). These figures align with the characteristics of a largely rural area, where lower population density and community cohesion may act as natural deterrents to certain types of crime. However, the surge in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour highlights the importance of addressing emerging patterns that could be linked to temporary factors such as increased foot traffic or social events.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in May 2023 was the 200% increase in shoplifting, rising from one to three incidents. This surge, coupled with an 114.3% rise in anti-social behaviour (from seven to 15 cases), highlights a significant shift in crime patterns. Anti-social behaviour, now at 1.7 per 1,000, exceeds the UK average of 1.3 by 28%, suggesting a localised challenge that may partly explain the overall rate increase. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences decreased by 12.5%, from eight to seven cases, though this category remains 71% below the UK average. Vehicle crime also rose sharply by 100%, indicating a potential link to seasonal factors such as increased outdoor activity during longer evenings. These changes underscore the need for targeted community engagement strategies to address the rising incidents of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which collectively account for nearly 50% of all reported crimes in the area.

Ampthill's crime rate in May 2023 rose 62.3% from 2.7 to 4.3 per 1,000 residents compared to April, reflecting a noticeable upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may provide residents with a tangible sense of local risk levels. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 232 residents in May, a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents against the population of 9,063. This rate remains significantly lower than the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, yet the increase from the previous month suggests a shift in local dynamics. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while Ampthill remains comparatively safe, the rise in reported crimes warrants attention to emerging patterns, particularly in categories such as anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which saw marked increases.